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Duane Ward, a two-time World Series champion and one of the most accomplished relievers in Toronto Blue Jays history, has died at 62.
The Blue Jays said Sunday that Ward died of natural causes in Toronto. He had arrived in the city Friday ahead of the team’s ceremony honouring its 1992 and 1993 championship teams but was absent from Saturday’s festivities at Rogers Centre.
“It is with profound sadness that the Toronto Blue Jays mourn the passing of pitcher Duane Ward, one of the most accomplished and beloved relievers in franchise history,” the Blue Jays said in a statement.
“Duane will be deeply missed by our fans, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to his family. Duane will always be a cherished part of the Blue Jays family, and we will be forever grateful for his contributions to our organization and to baseball in Canada.”
Ward ranks among the Blue Jays’ leaders in saves with 121 across his 452 games with the Jays from 1986 to 1995. His 45 saves in 1993 remain a single-season franchise record.
Longtime Blue Jays executive Paul Beeston, who helped build Toronto’s back-to-back championship teams, said he was stunned by the news.
“I immediately thought of all the good times we had together, and we did have a number of good times together,” Beeston said in a hallway behind the Rogers Centre press box, steps away from a framed photo of Ward on the mound.
“He was here when we were going well. Between him and Tom Henke, we only had to play seven-inning games.”
Beeston’s eyes watered as he highlighted Ward’s contributions to the Blue Jays and the game of baseball in Canada.
“He was the first guy who started the coaches clinic and player clinics across the country,” Beeston said. “He was committed to it. He loved Canada, he loved the Blue Jays.”
Ward was honoured with an induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 2020.
The hard-throwing right-hander began his major-league career with Atlanta in 1986 after the Braves selected him in the first round of the 1982 MLB Draft out of Farmington, N.M.
The Blue Jays acquired Ward in July 1986 for pitcher Doyle Alexander. Ward would go on to spend the rest of his career in Toronto, forming a dominant bullpen tandem with Tom Henke before taking over as the club’s closer after Henke departed following the 1992 championship season.
Ward was the winning pitcher when Joe Carter hit his walk-off home run — immortalized with a statue unveiled Saturday — in Game 6 of the 1993 World Series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
“Whether setting the stage in the eighth inning or closing out wins, he will be remembered for the role he played in some of the greatest moments in Blue Jays history,” the Blue Jays said.
Ward missed the entire 1994 season with an arm injury and retired the following year after pitching in just four games during the 1995 season. He finished his career with a 3.28 earned-run average and a 32-37 record.
The Blue Jays honoured the reliever with a video tribute and a moment of silence before Sunday afternoon’s game against the Chicago White Sox.
“He was indomitable, and I thought he was one of those guys who would last forever because of all the things he did,” Beeston said. “The best way to describe him is that he was his own man. But it’s a tragic loss at a time when we’re having a celebration, and he was such a big part of it.”
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